So I have a problem where my hens forget which nest (and therefore partially incubated eggs) was theirs. And I found this post trying to find out if painting the boxes different colours might help them to remember. What was the result in the end for your hens? Did you notice anything?
Being closer to the coop actually seems to make them more distressed that they can't get back to the layer boxes. I am honestly considering blocking up the layer boxes and building new ones on the ground outside.